Roberto Mancini Unveils Bold 34-Man Squad for Italy’s Nations League Challenge

Roberto Mancini has wasted no time in stamping his authority on Italy’s new era, unveiling a bold 34-man squad for a demanding Nations League block that will test both depth and nerve.

Fresh from signing a contract that ties him to the Azzurri bench until 2030 and officially returning at the end of July, Mancini has ripped up the comfort blanket. Italy are staring at a hectic two-week spell: a double-header against Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye, plus heavyweight clashes with Belgium and France. The curtain rises on Friday, September 25, when Belgium visit the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

A squad shaken up

This is not a gentle reset. Mancini has handed maiden call-ups to nine players, a clear signal that reputations alone no longer guarantee a place.

Between the posts, Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina earns his first taste of the senior setup. At the back, Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi and Brentford full-back Michael Kayode step into the spotlight, joined by Monza defender Eddy Kouadio.

In midfield, Cagliari’s Alessandro Romano gets the nod, while Sporting CP prospect Issa Doumbia is rewarded for his rise abroad. The attack has been retooled as well: Sassuolo striker Sebastiano Esposito, Napoli forward Antonio Vergara and Nurnberg striker Mohamed Ali Zoma all receive their first senior invitations.

Mancini isn’t throwing out all continuity, though. Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor and Borussia Dortmund forward Samuele Inacio keep their places after featuring in recent friendlies, anchoring the new blood around familiar faces.

Big names back, one left out

The squad list also carries the feel of unfinished business. Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli and Udinese attacker Nicolò Zaniolo both return after long absences; neither has pulled on the Italy shirt since October 2024. Their recalls hint at a coach willing to reopen doors for players whose international stories were put on hold.

Rolando Mandragora’s name stands out even more. The Torino midfielder has not appeared for the national team since March 2021, yet now finds himself back in the fold as one of the surprise inclusions.

At the other end of the spectrum, there is no place for Chelsea defender Marco Palestra. As widely expected, his ongoing injury and lack of minutes this season have cost him a spot, underlining Mancini’s insistence on fitness and form.

A brutal schedule for a new era

The work starts immediately. The squad will assemble at Coverciano on Monday, September 21, for their first training session under Mancini’s renewed reign.

From there, the calendar turns unforgiving. After hosting Belgium in Rome on September 25, Italy travel to face Türkiye on September 28. Then comes a trip into the lion’s den: a visit to Zinedine Zidane’s France on Friday, October 2, a fixture that will measure just how quickly this revamped group can gel.

The international window closes back on home soil at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on October 5, where Italy meet Türkiye again. By then, the question will be unavoidable: has Mancini’s gamble on youth, recalls and a sweeping refresh pushed the Azzurri forward, or simply raised the stakes for what comes next?